Interviews & Reviews

The Larrimac Golf & Tennis Club (LGTC) interviewed two of its junior Larrimac golfers – Jeremy Voorneveld and Alex Skyba – to get their thoughts on the game and other things.

Jeremy Voorneveld and Alex Skyba

LGTC:

Tell us about yourself. What’s your backstory?

Jeremy:

I’m 15 years old and go to Philemon Wright High School. I’ve been playing golf at the Larrimac Golf & Tennis Club ever since I can remember. This summer I’m either golfing or working in the pro shop here.

Alex:

I come from a family of golfers starting with my great grandfather. I play the lovely sport as often as possible when the school year is finally over. I participate in numerous activities that the Junior program offers such as lessons from the club pros every Tuesday, drive, chip and putt contests, and the Junior Intersectional Tournament.

LGTC:

Great stuff. So…imagine you’re giving an elevator pitch for ‘golf’ – what do you say?

Jeremy:

“Golf is an awesome sport to play and really fun to learn. It’s a sport that most people pick up late, so why not get a head start on everyone else and start now!”

Alex:

I’d say “Golf is a sport that you can play for your whole life. If you take up golf at a young age, then stop playing as you get older when life gets busy, you can pick up the game again from where you left off.”

LGTC:

Good golf pitches.

How would you describe Larrimac, in just 3 words?

Jeremy:

Community. Unique. Enjoyable.

Alex:

Beautiful. Fun. Challenging.

LGTC:

Toughest hole at Larrimac and why?

Jeremy:

Probably hole 3. It’s a really long par 3 that rolls to the left, and since I’m a lefty and prefer to put a fade on the ball to give myself a better view of the pin on most of the holes, putting a fade on the ball will only make the ball roll further to the left. But… I can’t play a draw on the ball either because there are trees all along the right hand side of the hole, and chipping is almost impossible from that side because the green is sloped to the left with a very challenging sand trap on the left of the green.

LGTC:

Whew!

Alex:

I agree for sure. Hole 3 is the toughest – the long, slanted fairway and a challenging green surrounded by bunkers.

LGTC:

No wonder no one’s ever aced that hole.

Let’s talk about food.

Best food before, during and after golf.

Jeremy:

A protein bar before playing. During, I really enjoy a bag of sunflower seeds. After – the best thing is the fried chicken prepared by our chef Janice and sous-chef Christoph on men’s night.

Alex:

Before, a good breakfast. During, an egg salad sandwich and after, chicken fingers.

LGTC:

No hesitation in answering a food question!

So, finish this sentence “Golf is like…..”

Alex:

“a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”

LGTC:

Good one.

How are you both playing this season and what’s your goal?

Jeremy:

I’m playing pretty well but I’m still pushing myself to play even better. I’d like to get my handicap down to a single digit number.

Alex:

I’ve seen a big improvement in the way I play, but my goal for this year is to improve my drives.

LGTC:

If you could golf with anyone, who would that be and why?

Jeremy:

John Daly – he seems like a really fun guy and I think it’d be really cool.

Alex:

My grandfather – he’s been golfing for a long time and he could give me tips as we play.

LGTC:

What’s one of the strangest things that’s happened on the Larrimac golf course?

Jeremy:

I was out playing one morning after it rained, out on hole number 6, and all of a sudden I see a deer jump over the green. Then I see a coywolf jump the green chasing the deer. So I start running and look back and see the coywolf now seems to be chasing me! Anyway, I ran back to the clubhouse.

LGTC:

Sounds a bit wild. Glad you’re here to tell the tale.

One last thing before we let you go. Imagine you’re 49 years old. What advice do you give a kid about the game of golf?

Alex:

Golf is a very enjoyable game but also frustrating, and sometimes you will hit good shots and sometimes you will hit bad shots. But don’t let the bad shots get into your head.

JEREMY:

I would probably tell them that the only way to actually become good at golf is to take the game seriously, and that working hard will only get you so far. Golf is really more about working smart, learning, and developing your swing.

LGTC:

Great advice for sure. Thanks for doing this interview and see you out on the course.

Larrimac wishes to thank all the volunteers who mentor our junior golfers to support learning and love of the game.

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The Larrimac Golf & Tennis Club sat down with David S, lifelong golfer, Larrimac member and a key custodian of facts about golf and the Larrimac Golf course.

David Stockwell

LGTC:

What’s the appeal of a 9-hole course?

DS:

At Larrimac it’s about challenging golf plus playing a round in about 2 hours. At most courses there are restrictions when you can play 9 – i.e. early mornings or late afternoons – or you have to pay for the whole 18. At Larrimac it’s play 9, pay for 9, anytime. So approximately 75% of our green-fee players play only 9 holes because they agree ‘9 is fine’. That’s our sweet spot in the market.

LGTC:

Describe the golf experience at Larrimac.

DS:

We have 2 par 3s, 6 par 4s and 1 par 5.

Our greenskeeper and his team are pros so the course is maintained beautifully.

Playing from different tee set-ups on 6 holes, and from different tee boxes on 3, requires different shot-making skills. You have to manage the course – many fairways are narrow and the greens are tricky. BTW we have a par 3 that in 93 years nobody has ever aced. (#3)

It’s not your dime-a-dozen dull course. We’re in the Gatineau Hills! We even offer a free electric cart on our 2 mountain holes.

I’ve played more than 500 different courses in 50 countries and Larrimac is still a favourite.

LGCT:

If someone gets a hole-in-one on that par 3 will there be a party?

DS:

Absolutely.

LGCT:

Is golf catching on with younger players?

DS:

Attracting 20-40 year-olds as members for all clubs is tough. Larrimac’s annual fees are very low but for this group it’s not about money but about getting the time to play because of work and family pressures. ‘9 is fine’ works for them. Green-fee players in this age group love us because they grab a sunny weekend when they can and head for the Hills for a couple of hours with friends to hit away.

LGCT:

What’s the food like at the Larrimac Resto?

DS:

Emil, our chef from Morocco, is a real gem. Sunday brunches on the balcony, a glass of Pinot Grigio in hand, overlooking the Gatineau hills can’t be beaten. Larrimac also has after golf buffet nights for members, green fee golfers, and mixed leagues – Mondays through Thursdays from June through August.

LGCT:

Do you have beer?

DS:

Do golf balls have dimples?

LGCT:

Who is Stella?

DS:

Stella can be seen sitting shotgun in the maintenance vehicle next to Larrimac’s greenskeeper Earl as he goes about his day. She’s a fine dog that helps prevent geese and rodents from moving in. And she does it all for the love of golf and Earl.